Taiwan fishermen protest over seizure of boat by Japan

In protest of the Japanese coast guard recently detaining a Taiwanese fishing boat, fishermen hurl eggs outside of the Japan representative office in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Scores of Taiwanese fishermen protested Wednesday outside Japan’s representative office in Taiwan to demand an apology over the seizure of one of their fishing boats by the Japanese coast guard. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying) (The Associated Press)

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Pan Chiu-chung, left, father of detained Taiwanese fishing boat captain Pan Chien-peng, hands over a protest letter to a Japanese officer outside of the Japan representative office in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Scores of Taiwanese fishermen protested Wednesday outside Japan’s representative office in Taiwan to demand an apology over the seizure of one of their fishing boats by the Japanese coast guard. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying) (The Associated Press)

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Pan Chiu-chung, center, father of a detained Taiwanese fishing boat captain Pan Chien-peng, condemns Japan during an anti-Japan protest, Wednesday, April 27, 2016 in Taipei, Taiwan. Scores of Taiwanese fishermen protested Wednesday outside Japan’s representative office in Taiwan to demand an apology over the seizure of one of their fishing boats by the Japanese coast guard. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying) (The Associated Press)

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Scores of Taiwanese fishermen have protested outside Japan's representative office in Taiwan to demand an apology and the return of one of their fishing boats seized by the Japanese coast guard.

The fishermen lobbed eggs and clashed briefly with police while delivering a petition Wednesday at the Interchange Association, which handles relations between the two in the absence of diplomatic ties.

Taiwan has called the boat's seizure Monday about 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) southeast of Japan's Okinotori islands an illegal act, saying it was fishing in international waters at the time.

Japan has demanded the posting of a $54,442 bond for the release of the boat and its 10 crew members.

Chairman of the national fishermen's association Lin Chi-tsang compared the seizure to an act of piracy.